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Analysis of the liquefaction phenomena in the village of Vittorito (L’Aquila)

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Abstract

This paper describes a case-history of liquefaction occurred near the village of Vittorito after the April 6, 2009 L’Aquila earthquake (moment magnitude Mw = 6.3), approximately 45 km far from the epicentre. In the document, first, an estimation of the seismic motion in the area has been made. Thereafter, the performed geotechnical investigation is described, followed by the application of some fast assessment criteria for the occurrence of liquefaction, recently proposed by the new Italian Building Code. A careful assessment of all the parameters involved in conventional Seed and Idriss (1971) liquefaction analyses is considered. The cyclic resistance ratio CRR is evaluated by cone penetration tests CPT and by in situ seismic dilatometer tests SMDT; in the latter case CRR is evaluated by different empirical correlations with shear wave velocity Vs and horizontal stress index KD. Analytical data confirmed the observed occurrence of the liquefaction in Vittorito, even if the acceleration field in the area, produced by the L’Aquila earthquake, was very low.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Structural, Water and Soil Engineering, University of L’Aquila, Nucleo Industriale di Bazzano Sud- S.P. 37, 67100, Monticchio—L’Aquila, Italy

    Paola Monaco, Silvano Marchetti & Gianfranco Totani

  2. S.A.V.A. Department, Structural and Geotechnical Dynamics Laboratory–StreGa, University of Molise, via Duca degli Abruzzi, 86039, Termoli, CB, Italy

    Filippo Santucci de Magistris

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Salvatore Grasso & Michele Maugeri

  4. Engineering Faculty, Structural and Geotechnical Dynamics Lab.–StreGa, University of Molise, via Duca degli Abruzzi, 86039, Termoli, CB, Italy

    Filippo Santucci de Magistris

  5. S.A.V.A. Department, via F. de Sanctis, 86100, Campobasso, Italy

    Filippo Santucci de Magistris

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  1. Paola Monaco
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  2. Filippo Santucci de Magistris
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  3. Salvatore Grasso
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  4. Silvano Marchetti
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  5. Michele Maugeri
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  6. Gianfranco Totani
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Correspondence to Filippo Santucci de Magistris.

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Monaco, P., Santucci de Magistris, F., Grasso, S. et al. Analysis of the liquefaction phenomena in the village of Vittorito (L’Aquila). Bull Earthquake Eng 9, 231–261 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-010-9228-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-010-9228-0

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